Family and friends of Carlos Pacanins gather at the corner of U.S. Route 1 and Knox Road in Columbia Park, Md., on April 14 to mourn his death. Pacanins and a second man were both killed at the intersection this year. Now the University of Maryland is calling for safety improvements and tougher enforcement . (WTOP File/Mike Murillo)

WASHINGTON – Fed up with deaths and injuries along a notorious stretch of road near campus, the president of the University of Maryland is pleading with the community and a state agency for changes that would protect students and pedestrians in College Park.

A call for action in the form of an open letter to the community targets all interested parties: jaywalkers, drunk pedestrians, walkers glued to cell phones and drivers who should slow down and pay better attention.

The letter requests immediate action from the Maryland State Highway Administration and seeks changes to lighting, signage and speed limits along U.S. Route 1 near Knox Road. Along that stretch, pedestrian wrecks have killed two people within the past 10 months.

“One of the consistent factors – and this is just the facts of the crashes – is we continue to have (alcohol) impaired pedestrians along Route One crossing the road,” says Maryland State Highway Administration Spokesman Dave Buck.

“So that’s partially enforcement, it’s partially engineering to make sure people are crossing at the right locations. But, it is personal responsibility,” Buck tells WTOP.

Road improvements like medians and crosswalk signals that count down won’t happen overnight. But making students aware of the risks and working with local bars and restaurants to encourage those on foot to obey traffic signals can begin sooner, he says.

Loh also says that both campus and Prince George’s County police will be out enforcing traffic laws on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights. Officers will park at key intersections to slow drivers and will be on the look out for jaywalkers and those who are drunk, even on foot.

In the letter, Loh also includes his contact information and says he welcomes suggestions to make the intersection safer.